The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves."I love serving families throughout their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Doulas have been shown to help lower intervention rates, simply by being present at a birth. They also help families to have a more positive view of their birth experience.

A Birth Doula...

Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life

Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth

Stays with the woman throughout the labor

Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions

Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers

Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience

Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

*Photography by Birth Boot Camp

But what does this really look like when labor is actually happening...

Your doula will come to your home and go over your birth plan, or help you develop one

She will discuss what comfort measures may work best for you and then practice them with you

You can even send us pictures and ask "Is this my mucus plug?" It happens all the time

Your doula will come to your house when you think you are in labor, even if it is a false alarm

We will provide comfort measures such as double hip squeeze, hot rice sock, and massage

She will gently coach you as you transition in each stage of labor

Your doula will not stand in the way of a partner who desires to be interactive with the labor, she will help guide them by showing them the best ways to help the laboring mother, making them feel like a confident partner

We will help you determine when is the best time to head to the hospital or call your midwife

Your doula will encourage you to breathe

She will encourage you to change positions in order to allow your baby the easiest exit path

Your doula will provide evidence based information to help you consider interventions that may arise during your labor

She will stay with you when the nurses leave

We can take pictures for you so you don't have to miss those precious first moments

She will help you learn to breastfeed

Evidenced Based Birth provides wonderful statistics about the physiological benefits of a doula. When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a:

31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*

28% decrease in the risk of C-section*

12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*

9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief

14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery

34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience*

Alabama Births is now providing Doula services and Birth Boot Camp childbirth education classes to Gadsden and the surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you!

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Author

My name is Jillian and I am a Doula, Childbirth Educator, Placenta Encapsultor, and Trainer for Birth Boot Camp, living in the Rainbow City, Alabama. I believe in women and that they deserve support throughout their pregnancy and births no matter what method of birth they desire. I myself am a mother to 4 girls; each of their births were vastly different.